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Day Hike - Icicle Ridge

Escaped the rain, got a few "Land of Mordor" glimpses towards the Enchantments.

Brian Carpenter Brian Carpenter
September 23, 2018
  • Road suitable for all vehicles

  • There is a sign posted at the TH saying that  NW Forest Pass is NOT required there, which makes no sense.

    First 2.5 miles of trail to the overlook is in buttery shape.

    Beyond that there are some brush sections, some eroded straight up sections and a few blowdowns but nothing truly awful.

    This time of year there is no water on the ridge.

Hiked up the east end of Icicle ridge, right at the edge of where the rain ended. Skies clear to the east and got clearer as the day went on. A few light showers in the morning but the temperature was still remarkably warm, at least 60 and it remained warm even high on the ridge. No wind, lots of sun breaks.

Some blow downs beyond the 2.5  view point and brushy sections but the trail is easy to follow. It alternates between brush and open forest. B1 at the most.

We went another 3 miles up the ridge, turning around at 5400 where we found a view point to the south towards the Enchantments. Only a few misty glimpses of rocky peaks but could see up Snow Creek valley and down into Icicle Creek.

Ran into a Mountaineers youth group on our way down!

11 miles and 4200' gain. Not bad for a day when the Cascades were mostly covered in clouds and very wet.